INSTITUTE: Defending pair decide to leave Drumahoe men

Kevin McLaughlin

Institute manager Kevin Deery admitted he was bitterly disappointed that pair Dean Curry and Declan McKeever have decided to leave the club.

Both players broke the news to Deery this week that they would not be coming back.

“To be honest it was a strange week,” he said.

“I have always tried to be as fair as I can be with people and I always pride myself of never being a bad person but unfortunately this week it has come back to bite me.

“Dean has told me that he is guaranteed to play centre-back at another club, he didn’t tell me the club but I have since found out its Bangor, so it’s unfortunate.

“Declan was a strange situation, because he missed a few sessions and then I named the squad for a recent match which was called off and he wasn’t in it and because the match was called off we did a session but he never turned up and we haven’t seen him for a few other sessions since.

“We exchanged a few text messages and unfortunately it looks like he has left the club. In fact Paul Owens rung me to say could he speak to him, so he could be destined for Limavady.

“I would like to take this opportunity now to thank both Dean and Declan for their services for both me and the club.

“Neither player was ever a real bother to me, football is football and players move on and I wish them well in their next challenge.”

With those players moving out when next month’s transfer window opens, Deery is already looking to strengthen his squad with ex-Stute striker Joe McCready and midfielder Niall Grace both possibly joining.

“I don’t want to say too much but I’m trying to bring in a few players,” he added.

“I’m definitely going to be signing Niall Grace, he’s a 6ft 1inch attacking midfielder who I had at Trojans.

“No one will really have heard much about him, but Niall is good on the ball, aggressive and someone I feel that we need.

“When I took the Institute job Niall was one of those players that I wanted to sign, but he went travelling for a few months and then the transfer window closed, but since he has come back I have spoken to him and he’s keen to come out and join us, so it’s a good addition for us.

“Joe played against us for Limavady earlier in the season and he was their best player on the night.

“He’s a player who I really like and he’s out doing training with us at the minute, so I just want him to get really fit now and if he can do that he’ll be a real asset if he comes into the squad.”